Today I want to share something with you that is extremely special to me – our eclipse journey which I started planning two years ago. It was two years ago that I called the hotel in the tiny little town of John Day, Oregon to reserve a room for the two of us for last weekend. John Day lay in the path of totality, so we wouldn’t have to drive any further once we got there to see the total solar eclipse.

Baily’s Beads – Sunlight rushing in between moon’s craters

This was our first total solar eclipse. I have photographed a couple of partial ones before, but those were nothing compared to the sun being completely obscured by the moon. I knew I had to capture this event with my camera and telescope.

So, on Friday afternoon we started our 592-mile / 10-hour journey northbound to chase the moon’s shadow for the first time in our lives. We both love to drive, and the scenery was fabulous. At any other time, I would have stopped and taken a LOT of photos along the way, but my mind was focused on one and only one thing this time.

Close up of Baily’s Beads – bright sunlight filtering through the rough edges of the craters on the moon

Solar Prominences – Activity on the solar surface shown in red

I knew going in that I would be able to either view and enjoy the eclipse or take photos. I chose photos. Totality would last only 2 minutes at our location and I had to finish taking a series of photos within that time. Immediately after, the solar filter would need to be placed back in front of the telescope before the sun would emerge again, so my eyes and my optics would not be left permanently damaged.

Couldn’t pass up a chance of capturing the lunar surface covering the sun

We spent Sunday at the hotel. We were lucky enough to be able to park our car right in front of our room. The car powered my telescope’s motorized mount so it could continue to track the sun once I had everything set up and aligned correctly. We spent the morning making sure the setup worked from that location. The afternoon was spent rehearsing the set of exposures I would be taking.

Totality

One last rehearsal Monday morning and I was set. I started watching and recording the partial eclipse from the very beginning. As the moon proceeded to cover the majority of the sun, the light started dimming quite significantly and the temperature dropped noticeably as well. I felt a chill in the air and we experienced late twilight in the middle of an otherwise very sunny morning.

Right then, the alarm went off on the phone to tell us to remove the solar filter and start clicking. The race against time had begun! It felt like the two minutes were over even before the countdown started. I didn’t get a chance to look up at the sky, but I also knew I would be very sad if I didn’t take the photos.

Needless to say, I didn’t get to paint or sew much. Before the trip, I did manage to make a small bag using the yellow newspaper fabric that my dear friend Krissent me. I made it to carry my tiny little paint palette and my sketchbook. Remember the round pencil cases I made in this Sketchbook 2017 post? Now I have a matching art supply bag. I took them with me, but unfortunately they stayed in my backpack. I know one of the August sketchbook entries will be of the eclipse.

Total Solar Eclipse – Beginning To End

My husband helped me rehearse the photography sequence more than a dozen times, and talked to curious strangers while I was setting up my telescope so I could keep my concentration. Most importantly, he sacrificed his viewing experience to remove and replace the solar filter on time, to call the photo settings out loud and to shine a red light on the camera so I could shoot uninterrupted.

This was my first try at taking photos of totality and I really could not have done this without him. I wish we had a few more seconds so he could have enjoyed it a bit longer. I owe him another eclipse journey.

I anticipated this for so long, now I am a bit sad that it’s over. As happy as I am with the photos, I also wish that I spent time experiencing the totality with my own eyes. Shakespeare said it best – “For man is a giddy thing and this is my conclusion“.

Thank You for listening!
-Soma

I am also linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. They are fun to visit and great source for new inspirations.

I love reading your comments and I always reply to them via email. Thank you so much for taking the time to write one.

34 Comments

Just absolutely amazing! We had an eclipse in the UK a couple of years ago and a got a few photos but nothing on your scale. Your planning for the event has totally paid off. What an amazing experience for you both.

Wow! How wonderful for you, and your husband. What a great time you had, and your photos are exquisite. We had only a partial eclipse here in western Canada. I stayed inside with the dog (my husband was afraid she might accidentally look at the sun) and most of the windows covered. I could see the day turning almost to twilight, but the dog slept right through it!

Oh Soma, these photos are just stunning – the best I’ve seen. The detail is just incredible. I loved seeing the Bailey Beads. You always take such amazing photos, but you have even outdone yourself this time. Thank you! Please also thank K for his assistance in letting all of us enjoy these.

Your photos are absolutely fantastic! I wasn’t able to see it as we are living this next year in Germany, but my two oldest boys took their nana to see it in South Carolina. The said it was amazing. I watched it here on the news, but it wasn’t the same.

Your photos are incredible! I didn’t know so much effort was required to take good photos of the eclipse. I am glad you enjoyed the experience. Cheers to your husband who was awesome enough to help you out! #OurWorldTuesday

Wow! You did this right! I am so impressed with your dedication to getting the perfect photos of this event, and you certainly did. Painting and sewing are two of my favorite past-times as well. We were totally (pun unintended! :-) ) unprepared for the event and when our friend joined us and brought a telescope (we live in Terrebonne and frankly I was more worried about traffic jams and accidents, potential fires and jacked up prices because of the thousands of extra people who were coming to our area that week than in seeing the eclipse) we were able to enjoy it. He didn’t have photograph-capability on his telescope but we did use a white board to project the image and took pictures of that. Now that I look back I wish we’d had the equipment to get photos such as yours! BTW our area came through completely unscathed…I had worried for nothing! :-)

Wonderful pictures from the eclipse! I was at work in 91% and it was neat, but nothing like what my husband experienced in Kentucky. I am looking forward to 2024 when my home is in the path of totality. What an amazing experience!

Can imagine that after rehearsing the timing, etc. putting all your energy to the sequence and the right location, it’s hard to have closure and to let go, because it all were mere minutes! Besides, you and your hubby have been planning this for two years!
But your photos give you a look back on the whole event. Your photos are absolutely perfect – you can be proud of them! Thank you so much for sharing this historic event with All Seasons! Now I hope you relax and enjoy the last days of summer:)

Soma, those photos are fabulous! You prepared and the results are exciting and awesome – in the original meaning of the word. I got dinky photographs, but I was excited to be there and to see it. We were in the middle of a snow the last time there was a total, so this was fabulous for me. We saw the diamond ring, but I missed the beads, so I’m especially appreciative of your showing that. Are you traveling south for 2024? =) I’m pretty sure I will. We had totality right here, but only about 30 seconds. It seemed to go so quickly! Now I want another one! We’ll only be at 85% for 2024, so I’m thinking if my friend still lives in Dallas, that’s where I’ll be! Your husband was a big part of your success, and must be a wonderful partner in all things.

Marius

Hi!
I am interested in the “earthshine” image where you captured the moon’s surface during totality.
Did you have to do something special for that shot, like ‘bracketing’ (multiple exposures)? If not, what were the (approximate) camera settings?

Beautiful photography! Luckily we (in SC) were in the path to totality so we did not have to travel. I found the eclipse to be simply amazing and am planning on traveling to the next one (7 years from now).

Your photographs are absolutely amazing. I enjoyed reading about your day getting ready to take these photos. We traveled about 4 hours to watch in a 2 min totality zone. I took the opposite approach – I choose to ignore trying to take any photos and instead went for the experience. It was the quickest 2 minutes ever!

Sarah

Wow! How fantastic…love the story and the photos. I was so naive, that I thought the 95% totality they we going to have would be almost as good as totality. I mean 95 out of 100 is good unless you’re talking about the sun! I mean really hahaha I laugh at my self. I have a daughter in Greenville S C and they had A totality event there and the difference was amazing. Here Is link to a web cam in their park:

Oh WOW oh WOW!! What dedication, what planning to produce your brilliant photos Soma. All are simply breathtaking but the final one of the Solar Eclipse from the beginning to the end is sublime! You and your husband are an excellent team. Regarding you and he missing out on the actual viewing of this once in a lifetime event, that is sad but you wouldn’t have these awesome photos if you had. Your photography skills are beyond amazing!

Thank you so very much for sharing your amazing and beautiful photos of the Eclipse. I missed it in person and on recorded TV. I am in awe of your trip. Your husband also has my Thank Yous. I do hope you were able to enjoy your drive home. Eclipse Bliss…<3

Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos, they are the best I have seen, wow…just WOW!! :) We were 86% here and I enjoyed viewing it through a welding helmet, ha! E had the glasses at school. I am looking forward to 2024 and maybe a chance to see the totality. Love your bag set but I can see why you didn’t have time for sketches…looks like you and your husband used your time very wisely, indeed. How large are you going to mount your photos? I’ll bet they make a truly phenomenal display.

Kim

Wow, Soma, what an epic adventure you undertook, and what an amazing team effort! The photos you were able to take are amazing though, and worth the practice and rehearsal. Hopefully you will both get to see another total eclipse, and enjoy seeing it directly.

Paulette

Soma, your photos are amazing! Here in SC we was in totality also. I didn’t even attempt to photograph, I just enjoyed the moment and knew there would be awesome photos out there and I was right! Thank you for sharing these and your experience.